Electric switch



April 29, 1941. T. BXRKENMAIE'R 2,240,253

' ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

April 29, 1941. A T. BXIRKENMAIER 2,240,253

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Marc h 9, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I FIG. 2.

I I v J April 29, 1941.

T. BIRKENMAIER 2,240,253

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3.

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Theodore Birkenmaier, St. Louis, Mosassignor to W. N. MatthewsCorporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 9, 1938, Serial No. 194,791

iql. 200-126) Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches, and with regard to certain more specific features, to repeating electricswitches.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provisionof a repeating switch of simple and reliable structure which, by means of a simple change, may be made to operate with a substantial time delay between re-closure operations (for example 40 cycles) or with only a short time delay (for example 2 cycles) the provision of a switch of the class described in which the various fuses may be applied and removed in the usual way that non-repeating fuses are applied and removed, without regard to sequence, thus avoiding the necessity for special operating knowledge on thepart of the user; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which costs less than prior repeating switches of the same class. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of 1 which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevationoi the device in position ready to operate, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing a first fuse blown; I I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentarydetail showing an intermediate operating stage; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail illustrating th operation of applying a fuse holder; and,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 1 on a reducedscale. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. I Heretofore repeating electric switches have been characterized by complications which have prevented reliable operation. The present invention avoids these and provides also for simplified operatiom a Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I an insulator carried upon a support 3 and supporting at its opposite ends upper and lower conducting terminal members 5 and 1, respectively. Connectors!) and I I on the terminal member's 5 and 1 respectively are used for attaching line wires.

The lowerterminalmeriiber l'has bolted there to, atdescending elevations from front to rear, aseries of identical U-shaped supports l3, the legs of which have recesses ll therein for the receptionof oppositely located gudgeons IS on fuse holders L; M, R, to be described.

Pivoted at 23 on each support I3 is a lower sleet hood 25. Each sleet hood has outer legs 21 which form the actual supports at the pivots 23.

Adjacent the legs 21, the supports [3 are provided with spaced stops 29 and 3|. The upper stops 29 limit the upward movement of the sleet hoods '25, and the lower stops 3| limit the downward movement thereof (compare Figs. 1 and 3).

Each lower sleet hood has, besides its function as a sleet hood, the function of holding its respective fuse holder in an upward position, yet to permit the fuse holder, when released by the blowing of its fuse, to swing freely toan open position. For this purpose, each sleet hood 25 is provided with a latch or hook 33 pivoted at 35 within a socket 31 formed integrally with the respective sleet hood 25. Each latch 33 is normally pressed by means of the spring 39 to a downward position determined by a stop 4|. Each sleet hood 25 is also provided with an inner lug 43.

The fuse holders are generically indicated by the letters L, M, R, in order to indicate left-hand, middle, and right-hand holders, respectively. Each fuse holder comprises an insulating tube having an upper terminal-engaging element 41 in the form of 'a' hollow threaded cap on one side of which is a cam 5-9 and on the other side of which isthe ordinary type of puller ring 5|. A plug threaded into the cap 41 is shown at numeral 53. The top of each plug 53 is rounded as shown and silver plated on the rounded portion. Each plug, by inward threading action, presses to a seat the upper head 55 of a fuse link 61 which is to be carried by the respective fuse holder. The respective link 61 passes from its point of contact with the upper terminal-engaging element 41 down through the insulating tube 45 and out from the open lower end 51 thereof. Spaced from the lower end of the insulating tube 45 is a conducting member 58, to which is pivotedat 6| a conducting leg 63. The leg 63 is, that portion of the fuse holder upon which are the gudgeons 19. This leg also carries a connector nut 65 for holding the lower end of the fuse link 51 when that link is threaded out from the lower end of the tube 45 and around the lower end of the leg 63' to hold the leg 63 downwardly against the tube 65, as shown in Fig. 1. g

In order to effect a more direct pull upon the fuse link 6'1, there is pivoted at 69 an arm ll which is normally pressed downwardly by spring 13 tending to pull the link 61 from the tube 45, but being normally prevented from so doing by the unbroken fuse link 61. If and when the fuse link 61 separates by melting at its reduced section 15 (Fig. 1), then the arm 1I tends to pull out the link 61. This supplements the expulsive action of the generated gases which discharge downward from tube 45. At the same time, the leg 63 is released from its rigidly held position against the tube 45 permitting descent of the latter.

From the above, it will be seen that, when a fuse link 61 is assembled in a fuse holder, it joins the upper terminal-engaging element 41 with the lower conducting leg 63, and current may thus be conducted through the respective members I3 and the line terminal 1.

The upper portion 11 of each member 59 has a triple function. The first function is to act as a support for the fuse holder on the ball-end of a linemans stick. For this reason each portion 11 is formed as a ring 19, whereupon application to the stick may be made as shown in Fig. 5. This permits the fuse holder to be lifted into position to apply the gudgeons I9 to the notches I1.

Each portion 11 is also provided with a cam 8I which, when a fuse holder is swung from a depending position to an upstanding position, contacts with the forward edge of the respective lower sleet hood 25 to rotate it upwardly. This cam 8| also finally becomes positioned behind the respective lug 43 on the respective sleet hood. For holding the fuse holder in upstanding posl-' tion, a dog 83 is provided on the portion 11 which becomes positioned behind the respective spring latch 33.

In view of the above, it will be seen that each fuse holder, with its leg 63 held rigidly by its respective fuse link 61, may have its gudgeons I9 applied to the notches I1 and rotated upwardly until the respective dog 83 is caught by the respective spring latch 33 resiliently to hold the fuse in an upwardly angled position.

On the other hand, if it be desired to pull out a fuse holder before it operates automatically in the manner to be described, this may be done simply by attaching the ball of the linemans stick in the upper ring and pulling downwardly, whereupon the respective latch 33, which is only spring pressed downwardly, rides resiliently up over the respective dog 83 under the force of the pull. The fuse holder then swings down and may have its gudgeons I9 removed from the notches I1.

It will also be seen that, if after a fuse holder is in its upwardly angled and held position and that if the fuse link 61 parts at the reduced section 15, the respective leg 63 may rotate, thus permitting a descent of the respective tube 45, and a downward rotation of the whole. Under such action, the cam 8I contacts the lug 43 to hold the hood 25 so that its latch 33 clears the dog 93 (Fig. 4), and thus the fuse holder may fall freely without interference.

The upper terminal 5 has pivoted thereon an upper combined sleet hood and conductor 85 composed of conducting material and covering substantially the entire apparatus. It is pivoted at 81 and normally gravitates downward. The action of gravity is aided by a downwardly pulling spring 89. A flexible pigtail conductor I88 joins the sleet hood 85 and the upper line terminal 5.

The outer or extended end of the hood is formed with sockets 9I in each of which is bolted a silver-plated conducting cup 93. Beyond the cups 93, the hood 85 is flared upwardly as at to provide guiding engagement, when necessary, with the cams 49 on any of the upper line terminals 41 of the fuse holders. The time for this necessity is when the first fuse holder L has its gudgeons I9 placed in notches I1 and the holder is rotated upwardly. The hood B5 is then as far down as it will go and rests upon a stop III, and as the fuse holder is rotated upwardly, it is cammed into a position under hood 85 with cap 53 in the respective cup 93. Stops 2 prevent cams 49 from being forced back too far.

At this time a lug 98 on the hood 85 becomes spaced above a latch 91 which is pivoted at pin 99. The latch 91 is part of a bell-crank 4. The latch 91 is normally swung into the position shown in Fig. 1 by the gravitating action of arm IUI which extends down from bell-crank 4. The arm I8I has a left branch portion I03 (Fig. 2) which is adapted to be contacted by the fuse holder L when it swings down; and a right branch portion I95 which is adapted to be contacted by the middle downwardly swinging fuse holder M when that holder swings down. Downward swinging of either fuse holder sends the arm IIJI clockwise and sends latch 91 clockwise from under the lug 96. Thus, when the fuse in holder L blows, the holder descends, the resulting action being for the lug 96 first to descend and rest upon the upper end I91 of the lug 96 to be there held as the holder L descends.

A delay of the order of 40 cycles occurs between the time that the fuse holder L withdraws from contact with the hood 85, and the time that it strikes the branch I93. When it strikes the branch I83, the arm IIII is rotated clockwise, as well as the latch 91. This causes the lug 95 to drop from the top I91 of the latch 91 to a position just above the bottom of the notch I89. Complete descent to a position on the bottom of the notch I89 is prevented by the fact that the second soc ket 9| in hood 85 comes into contact with the head 53 of the middle fuse holder M. Thus, the circuit is reclosed with a time delay (Fig. 3).

If the trouble in the line has not cleared, or if at subsequent time an overload occurs, the fuse in fuse holder M may blow, thus causing the second fuse holder M to descend. At the start of its descent, there occurs disconnection between the head 53 and the hood 85. The lug 96 then descends to the bottom of notch I89 to delay contact between hood 85 and the third fuse holder R until the fuse holder M has descended to strike the right-hand branch I95. When the latter occurs, the latch 91 again moves clockwise and the hood 85 is released (pulled down by spring 89) so that the last cup 93 to the right contacts with the head 53 of the righthand fuse holder R. Whenever the last fuse holder R blows, this fuse holder R descends to effect final disconnection. At this time the hood 85 is drawn down against a stop I I I. This is the lowermost and disconnected position of the hood 85.

To reload, new fuses are placed in the holders. By means of a linemans stick (Fig. 5), the holders are placed in position with trunnions IS in recesses I1. They are then rotated upward in any order desired. Cams 8I lift the lower hoods 25 to permit subsequent latching. The order of application and/or rotation of the fuse holders teams is immaterial, because it isnot the downwardly tensioned'hood 85 that holds-up the fuse-holders, but the latching action between the latches 33 and portions 83; It has already been shown above that re-opening may be effected also in any order, merely by pulling down the desired fuse holder by means of its ringl.

The operations as above described, with the latch 91 operating, results in about a 40 cycle time delay for the closurep If such a time delay is not desired, the bell-crank 4 may simply be removed by taking out the pin 99. This removes the latch 91 as well as the arm IOI and its branches I03 and H15. Then, when the left-hand fuse holder L blows and descends, there is nothing below the lug 96 to cause it to hold up the hood 85, and the hood therefore immediately descends to make a cup 93 contact with the cap 53 of the middle fuse holder M. When the middle fuse blows, the middle fuse holder M descends, and the hood likewise promptly descends upon the top 53 of the right-hand fuse holder R. Time delay in this case is only about 2 cycles.

The purpose of positioning the fuse holders L, M, and R in descending order as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is to have them arranged for successive contact by the hood 85. Since this places heads 53 at progressively increased distances from the center of rotation 81 of the hood 85, the cups 9| in the hood 85 are placed at increasingly greater distances from said center 81, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. Thus, proper meeting between the successively operative cups 9| and heads 53 is assured.

One of the advantages of the device, besides its simplicity and reliability, is the fact that all the fuse holders are identical, and a lineman may take any one of a plurality of fuse holders and apply it to .any of the pairs of sockets l1 and rotate the fuse holder into closed position. Such rotation will result in closing the line through the respective fuse holder. However, if and when all of the fuse holders are applied (regardless of order), the apparatus assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the fuse holder which is farthest to the left always assumes the currenttransmitting duties. Furthermore, any pair of fuse holders, such as L, M or M, R or L, R, may likewise be used for obtaining a single reclosure function simply by loading the respective two fuse holders, without the third. The device may also be used as a non-repeating switch, merely by inserting one fuse holder, and this may be any one of the three. Manual reopening may be in any order desired. It will thus be seen that the device is quite universal in its application and strictly fool-proof so far as loading, closing and reopening are concerned.

Another feature, illustrated by Fig. 3, is the fact that the lower sleet hoods act as covers for the upwardly directed open end of the respective disconnected and downwardly rotated fuse holder. Thus, the fuse holders are automatically roofed to prevent them from filling up with snow, sleet or rain water.

It will be seen that the lower hoods 25 not only serve to prevent entry of rain and the like into the open end of the tube 45, but serve to protect the latches 33 therein. Thus, sleet will not deter the latches from proper operation.

It may also be noted that, during re-fusing, there is no momentary interruption of service when transferring the load from any fuse holder that is in circuit to the leftward fuse holder that is being put back into service. This is because the leftward fuse holder that is being rotated into position contacts its cam 49 with the hood before the hood is lifted to break circuit with the fuse holder already in circuit.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

- As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the-scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A fuse switch comprising a lower line contact, a plurality of receiving sockets being descendingly positioned thereon, collapsible fuse holders, fuse links therein normally supporting said holders against collapse, said holders being applicable to said sockets and rotatable into normal positions, means for maintaining said holders in said normal positions, a second line terminal normally biased toward the fuse holders and contacting one of the same, said fuse holders when fuses blow therein being adapted to collapse and to move away from said biased line terminal, said line terminal successively biasing to contact another fuse holder.

2. A fuse switch comprising a lower line contact, a plurality of receiving sockets being descendingly positioned thereon, collapsible fuse holders, fuse links therein normally supporting said holders against collapse, said holders being applicable to said sockets and rotatable into normal positions, means for resiliently maintaining said holders in said normal positions, a second line terminal normally biased toward the fuse holders and contacting one of the same, said fuse holders when a fuse blows therein being adapted to collapse and to move away from said biased line terminal, said line terminal biasing to contact another fuse holder, a movable latch having means adapted temporarily to support said line terminal when a fuse holder collapses away therefrom, and means whereby said latch releases said line terminal to effect contact between the biased contact and the next fuse holder after the collapsed fuse holder moves to an open circuit position.

3. A fuse switch comprising a lower line contact, a plurality of receiving sockets descendingly positioned therein, collapsible fuse holders, fuse links therein normally supporting said holders against collapse, said holders being applicable to said sockets and rotatable into normal positions, means resiliently maintaining said holders in said normal positions from which they may be manually withdrawn at any time in any order, a second line terminal normally biased to move toward the fuse holders and contacting one at a time, a fuse holder when a fuse blows therein being adapted to collapse and to move away from the biased line terminal, said line terminal then biasing toward contact with the next fuse holder in order, a movable latch having means adapted temporarily to support said biased line terminal when a fuse holder collapses away therefrom, and means whereby said latch releases said biased line terminal to contact the next fuse holder after the collapsed fuse holder moves to an open circuit position.

4. In a fuse switch comprising a fuse holder having an open end normally downwardly directed, means mounting the fuse holder whereby open end, latch means under the hood, a catch on the fuse holder adapted to be engaged by the latch means normally to maintain the fuse holder in a position with said opening directed downwardly, the fuse holder having collapsible mechanism permitting movement to release the catch from the latch under certain conditions, and cam means between the fuse holder and said hood preventing re-latching during the collapsing 1 0 movement.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER. 

